Bowling ball cleaner and polisher



May 20, 1947. A. H. THOLEN 2,420,988

BOWLING BALL CLEANER AND POLISHER Filed May 10. 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,J I v [min- 2/ flue/er may 7504:,

y 20, 1947- A. H. THOLEIN 2, 0,988

BOWLING BALL CLEANER AND POLISHER Filed May 10, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 I '2 Inve ntor May 20, 1947.

A. H. THOLEN BOWLING BALL CLEANER AND POLISHER Filed May 10, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lnmln 0 1 fiL 5597f HEN/BY 771ozs/v,

y 0,1947. A. H. THOLEN Q I 2,420,988

BOWLING BALL CLEANER AND POLISHER Filed May 10, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor fiLaE/Er firmer 77/045,

Patented May 20, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cleaning and polishing spherical bodies and particularly bowling balls.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a machine adapted to spin a ball in such a manner as to cause its entire surface to move against a polishing ring to thoroughly remove all grit and other foreign matter and desirably polish the surface of the ball.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the machine with the polishing ring shell in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine with the shell broken away.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view with the shell in section.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the polishing ring.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a ar driven type machine with the polishing ring shell in section.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the machine with the shell broken away.

Figure 7 is a rear elevational view of the form of the invention shown in Figure 5 with the shell in section.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the polishing ring.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that Figures 1 through 4 illustrate one embodiment of the present invention and this consists of a stand including corner posts 5, supporting a top 8 and a lower platform 1 upon which an electric motor 8 is mounted.

Cross members 9 are located between certain corner posts 5 for supporting bearings Ill through which the ends of a shaft l l are Journaled.

On one end portion of the shaft II is a pulley l 2 in vertically spaced relation to a smaller pulley l3 located on the armature shaft ll of the motor 8 and a belt I5 is trained over these pulleys l2 and I3. In this manner the shaft II is driven by the motor I.

A circumferentially concave rotor 16 is suitably secured to the shaft ii, the purpose of this rotor is to spin a bowling ball or the like A within a ilaolishing ring generally referred to by numeral As can be seen in Figure 4, a channeled structure ll forming part of the ring assembl I! is located on the top I in circumscribing relation to a circular opening I! through which a ball A depends to rest upon the rotor l6.

Numeral 2!! denotes a ring having a circumferential outside groove 2| for receiving a drive 5 belt 22.

The ring 20 has a depending circumferential rib 2! which rests on roller bearings 24 located in the bottom of the channeled structure i8. Ball bearings 25 may be interposed between opposite sides of the channeled structure l8 and corresponding sides of the rib 23. y

A polishing annulus 26 is aflixed to the inside of the ring 20 and against this the ball A moves in the operation of cleaning and polishing the surface thereof.

A hood or shell 21 is secured by suitable members 28 to the top of the stand and this shell has a circular opening 29 therein through which a ball can be disposed to rest upon the rotor IS.

The belt 22 is disposed downwardly against the pair of pulleys 30 to pass under a pulley GI located on the opposite end of the shaft II from the pulley l2.

Obviously, as the motor 8 drives the shaft II and the shaft II, in turn, operates the rotor l6 for spinning the ball A and rotates the ring 20 for wiping the element 26 against the surface of the ball, a cleaning and polishing action will take place which in effect will thoroughly clean and 30 polish a bowling ball in a short period of time.

A modification of the invention is shown in Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, and in this form of the invention a stand is provided and made up of a plurality of corner posts 32 supporting a top 33 and a platform 34 upon which a motor ll is located. The motor 35 has a shaft 88 driving a pulley 31 which by a belt 38, in turn, drives a pulley 39 located on a shaft with a circumferentially concaved rotor 40 and a bevel gear ll.

The rotor 10 operates on a ball A in the same manner as before described, the ball operating within a ring 42 having a wiper lining or annulus 43. This ring 42 also has a'depending rib u with roller bearings 48 and ball bearings." arranged in the same manneras in the first form of the invention, these bearing elements being locage'd within a channeled structure 41 on the top The only difference in the ring 42 over the ring 20 of the first form of the invention is the provision of a ring gear ll at its periphery instead'of a belt groove.

A bracket 49 supporting a bearing 5' accommodates a vertical shaft 5| which has a gear I! 55 at its upper end meshing with the ring gear ll and a bevel gear 53 at its lower end meshing with the bevel gear 4 I. The operation of this machine is the same as the machine of the first form.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having describedthe claimed as new is:

1. A ball cleaning and polishing device comprising a stand for supporting the ball, a ring mounted on top of the stand in horizontal position for receiving a ball placed therein and being rotatable about its axis, a cleaning and polishing liner in said ring adapted to be rotated thereby about the ball in wiping engagement therewith, a ball spinning rotor, means to mount said rotor on the stand beneath the ring to support the ball in said ring including a drive: shaft for the rotor, a belt and pulley connection between said shaft and said ring whereby said shaft simultaneously rotates said ring and said rotor, and means for driving said shaft.

2. A ball cleaning and polishing device comprising a stand for supporting the ball provided invention, what is ALBERT HENRY THOLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,195,303 Haskins Mar. 26, 1940 2,339,573 Knipp Jan. 18, 1944 1,920,064 Cogsdill July 25, 1933 1,587,068 Dinehart June 1, 1926 1,500,681 Mudra July 8, 1924 1,796,704 Day Mar. 17, 1931 

